Patriots rout Kirk twice

The Marshall Academy Patriots began District 1-3A competition last week with a bang ­ two easy wins over Kirk Academy.

MA crushed the Raiders 69-25 at home Tuesday, Jan. 12, and then followed that up with a 63-21 victory Friday night in Grenada.

Coach Craig Dailey’s Patriots, who had not played in a month, got off to a slow start in the home contest. They were up by just five, 13-8, at the end of the first quarter.

Then things started really clicking.

Dee Howell scored eight points in the second quarter and Walker Sanders added six as MA surged ahead 3012 at halftime.

The Pats kept rolling in the third and fourth, outscoring Kirk 39-13, and coasting to the 44-point victory.

Howell cashed in a game-high 18 points. Rod’Drickous Moore followed with nine.

Twelve Patriots scored in the game. The game Friday at Kirk followed much of the same format. The MA boys outscored the Raiders 40-12 in the second half on their way to winning by 42. Howell carried the Patriots offensively. He scored 11 of the team’s 14 in the first quarter. He finished with 21 points. Once again, lots of Marshall players contributed. Eleven scored in the win.

Lady Patriots The MA girls dropped both games to Kirk last week. They could not overcome their slow start January 12 at home and lost 46-37 to Kirk. The Lady Patriots dug an 18-6 hole in the first quarter. They were down 26-14 at halftime.

Coach Jeremy Ervin’s squad turned the tide a bit in the third, outscoring Kirk 11-4 to cut their deficit to five.

However, Kirk held on in the fourth and managed to leave Holly Springs with a nine-point victory.

Hallie Turner led the Marshall offensive effort with 13 points, including three threes.

The Lady Patriots led most of the way Friday night at Kirk but couldn’t hang on, losing 31-27. Marshall was up 11-8 after the first quarter, 21-15 at the half and 24-23 at the end of the third.

But the visiting squad could muster just three points in the fourth to the home team’s eight and ended up losing by four.

Karah Nicholson was MA’s leading scorer with 12. Turner added nine. Each of them hit three threes.

The Patriots (6-7 overall) and Lady Patriots (6-6) traveled to North Delta on Tuesday, and then they will host North Delta Friday. Next Tuesday, Jan. 26, they host Clarksdale Lee. All our district contests.